Jan

ARC gets new Center Director

Mar

SOFIA Project Management gives briefing to NASA HQ Programs Management Council.; ARC Space Projects Review Board given SOFIA presentation

Apr

U.S. SOFIA RFP released

June-
July

NASA Ð DARA management interface meetings held in Germany and in the U.S.; Proposals received from U.S. industry teams.

Aug

DARA receives proposals for TA.

Oct

DARA and DLR merger begins.

Nov

DARA down-selects SOFIA TA Contractor team. MAN/K-T/MAN consortium awarded fixed priced contract for development of TA.

Dec

USRA team awarded SOFIA contract for aircraft purchase, modification, and system integration.

Feb

Feb SOFIA III wind tunnel test completed.

Mar

Non-Advocate Review held at ARC; Industry Briefing on SOFIA Privatization held at ARC.

May

Interface meeting with DARA and German teams held at ARC.

July

DARA Interim Phase B Study contracts completed by two teams: MAN/K-T and Zeiss/Dornier.

Sept

Science Symposium in Switzerland discusses SOFIA.

Oct

Stand-down of KAO; ÒLive from the StratosphereÓ last flight; Boeing 747SP course given at ARC by United Airlines.

Nov

SOFIA IV wind tunnel test completed; SOFIA Industry Workshop held in Sunnyvale, CA.

Nov-
Dec

NASA and DARA both working on their respective RFP drafts.

Jan-
Dec

NASA and DARA continuing to work together in attempts to get SOFIA moving forward on both sides of the Atlantic; Science Working Groups in Germany and in the US busy advocating SOFIA.

Aug

SOFIA II wind tunnel test for aft configuration completed.

Sept-
Dec

DARA Phase B1 Studies performed by two German teams.

Jan-
Apr

Briefings held for various center management review panels on new SOFIA implementation plan, with FY94 "in-house" option proposed APRIL Efforts under way to prepare for aft configuration wind tunnel test

Apr

In-house approach approved by Office of Space Sciences (OSS) at Headquarters, by ARC New Business Filter Committee, and by SOFIA In-house Implementation Plan review committee

Headquarters Code C funding augmentation executed for technology development work

June

ARC Code R agrees to de-mothball 14 ft wind tunnel for SOFIA test; Test entry planned for 1994

CFD model on full -SP finalized for first test run

Began locating a section 46 of a Boeing 747

"Pro-Engineer" selected as Project and Code E computer-aided design (CAD) package

Aug

Headquarters OSS proposes recycling SOFIA as an FY95 new start to Administration/Comptroller

Oct

German Space Agency indicates willingness to participate in SOFIA with an FY96 start

Nov

NASA redirects planning for an FY96 start with DARA participating

Jan

IR measurements made of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) engine plumes using IR cameras mounted in Lear jet

Mar

Kickoff meetings for Telescope NRA studies (Lockheed Missiles & Space Company (LMSC), Hughes, Kaman)

Apr

Kickoff meetings for Aircraft NRA studies (E-Systems and Lockheed Aircraft Services, Ontario)

Aug

Second flight test on IR plume noise is made with cameras mounted inside SCA

Sept

Further options investigated to reduce total project costs, including initiation of in-house approach study

Nov

Plume study completed; aft installation feasibility verified and baseline change confirmed

Dec

Final reports of Aircraft System NRA submitted; Results concur with Ames in-house study regarding feasibility and cost savings for the aft cavity configuration

Feasibility of modifying existing SOFIA wind tunnel model for an aft cavity investigated

In-house implementation plan study fully underway; telescope, consoles + electronics, part of aircraft mod brought in-house to ARC

Jan

NAS Decade Survey (Bahcall committee) Report recommends SOFIA as the top priority moderate new mission for NASA

Mar

DARA's budget uncertain

Second wind tunnel entry planned for January 1992 to refine door design trade space

Apr

Development on three cavity door configurations for the wind tunnel model underway at ARC

May

With the realization of possible DARA budget cuts, SOFIA plans for FY92 start with an all U.S. program, with optional help from DARA in FY94 MAY Aircraft Modification Contractors road trip: Find out what companies have interest/capability to perform the SOFIA aircraft modification

June

Cavity Cooling System in-house study report finished

July

In-house descope studies begin, to try to reduce total SOFIA cost; 5 cases considered: 1 thru 4 are telescope cost reduction options/case 5 considers an aft cavity location to reduce aircraft modification costs

Sept

NASA Research Announcement (NRA) planned as procurement method to fund multiple studies with U.S. contractors to develop a U.S. option for the telescope

Descope studies completed; Only case 5, reducing the aircraft modification cost by about 40%, which in turn reduces the total cost of the project by 12%, appears to be viable approach, since the science impact is moderate.

Planned January 1992 wind tunnel test indefinitely postponed because of new, aft configuration selected for further study

NRA planned for two aircraft studies to confirm the feasibility and in-house estimate of savings for aft installation

Oct

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) studies on aft cavity are initiated

NRA released for Telescope System studies

Aft installation studies begin to analyze background IR noise caused by engine exhaust plume

Aft cavity location adopted as new baseline for the Aircraft System, pending study results

Dec

NRA released for Aircraft System study

Mar

SOFIA wind tunnel model tests start

Apr

Shear layer control device is developed for wind tunnel model

May

German Space Agency, DARA (Deutsche Agentur fuer Raumfahartangelegenheiten) budget cuts begin

June

Non-Advocate Review is held for SOFIA in accordance with the agency's new start-gate policy; SOFIA deemed ready to proceed to development again and recommended for 1992 start

Preliminary engineering study of SOFIA Ground Support Facility at new site underway

Aircraft System modification procurement activities underway, Source Evaluation Board (S.E.B.) established

July

Wind tunnel tests successfully completed; A low drag passive shear layer control device derived, that exceeds performance expectations

Redefining of cavity door begins, to incorporate wind tunnel test results

In-house studies of Telescope Sub-Systems begin

Oct

Consoles and Electronics System (CES) mock-ups evaluated

Reunification of Germany, requiring reduction of German government agencies' budgets

Jan

JANUARY Telescope diameter fixed at 2.5 meters by NASA HQ/DFVLR agreement

Feb

Wind tunnel model design complete and fabrication begins

May

Headquarters establishes Science Working Group (SWG) as follow- on to SOFIA Science Consulting Group

Recommendation to proceed with development from Space Science and Applications Advisory Committee (SSAAC)

Project Definition Review completed at ARC; Found SOFIA well planned and defined and approved the project to proceed into the development phase contingent on a successful completion of wind tunnel test

June

Draft MOU for development and operations phases reviewed by Ames, headquarters (Code S, X, and G), SWG, and the German Aerospace Research Establishment (DLR), formerly DFVLRFabrication of wind tunnel model completed by Microcraft; Model air-freighted to Ames. However, SOFIA wind tunnel test start delayed to allow completion of incumbent test

July

Non-Advocate Cost Review successfully completed at ARC with NASA Headquarters participation; Affirmation of project readiness for 1991 start; FRG listed as responsible for telescope assembly

14 ft wind tunnel breaks down: cracked turning vanes, SOFIA test start delayed further

Definition studies completed by NASA and BMFT; Phase B complete

Sept

Telescope and Aircraft System Phase B final reviews are completed and reports published

Oct

Boeing re-organizes; No longer interested in "one-of" mods like SOFIA

Nov

Berlin wall falls; Reunification of East and West Germany considered

Jan

Small IR Project Concept Review awards SOFIA highest priority, Committee on Space Astronomy (CSAA) and Astrophysics endorses SOFIA

Apr

Phase B Aircraft Proposal review at Boeing Military Airplanes (BMA)

May

SOFIA in preliminary Office of Space Science and Applications (OSSA) Research and Analysis FY90 budget for start of development and acquisition of aircraft

June

Space and Earth Sciences Advisory Committee (SESAC) recommends that SOFIA proceed into definition phase

Rose Engineering under contract to provide wind tunnel test plan and be the principal investigator in defining the SOFIA cavity shear layer control device

Aug

Meetings at Society of Photo-optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE) and ARC with FRG (Zeiss) technical experts on technology status, study issues, interfaces, and planning

Microcraft begins conceptual design of wind tunnel model at 7% scale

Project Readiness Review (PRR) of SOFIA at ARC; Approval to proceed with project definition

Sept

SOFIA zeroed for new start in FY90 budget; Replanning for FY91 development starts

Requirements and interfaces documents for definition studies completed and distributed

Resource assessment studies completed with Electrospace Systems Inc. (ESI), E-Systems, and The Analytical Sciences Corporation (TASC)

Oct

Phase B (Definition Study) kickoff meeting for German Telescope Assembly at Zeiss completed

Data System definition study kickoff at ARC by Code EES

Ames project coordination meeting completed with DFVLR in Cologne

Preliminary Design Review of wind tunnel model completed

BMFT (Bundesministerium fuer Forschung und Technologie), the German Ministry of Science and Technology, issued authority to proceed with Phase B definition studies for Telescope System

Nov

Project Readiness Review of Telescope System completed at Zeiss

Interface definition meeting between three German telescope contractors, BMA, and Ames completed at Zeiss

Dec

Astrophysics division/BMFT workshop completed at NASA Headquarters

Feb

Telescope System Phase A Study midterm review at ARC

Feb-
Sept

Boeing-MAC Phase II Study

May

German Phase A studies complete

July

SOFIA concept review held at ARC

May-
Aug

Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) cost study for Aircraft System

Sept

Ames Conceptual System study finished; SOFIA "Phase A System Concept Description" (The Red Book) published

Jan

Ames Research Center (ARC) establishes SOFIA Study Office

May

SOFIA technology workshop at Ames; Informal examination of the SOFIA concept and associated technical issues presented by experts in the related disciplines

May-
Nov

Boeing-MAC Phase I Study; Confirms the feasibility of installing a 2.5 meter telescope in a 747SP JULY Ames receives draft of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Telescope System study Statement of Work (SOW) from Germany

Aug

A presentation of SOFIA is held at NASA Headquarters

Oct

Ames in-house Conceptual System study begins

Nov

Collaborative agreement made with DFVLR (Deutsche Forschungsanstalt fuer Luft und Raumfahrt), the German Aerospace Research Establishment
German Phase A Telescope System studies kickoff

1985

NASA Headquarters allocates FY86 funding for Aircraft Modification Study; Science Consulting Group formed; NASA headquarters (HQ), Ames Research, and Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) representatives meet at HQ and Germans agree to study the development of the Telescope System

1984

Ad hoc advocacy group of IR astronomers formed for LAT; Paper on LAT presented; "Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) Preliminary Feasibility Study" report issued in December; Ames/Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) Symposium: Airborne Astronomy (10th KAO Anniversary)

1983

Success of Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS) shows need for follow-up/exploitation

1982

International Astronomical Union (IAU) Symposium : IR Astronomy; Invited discussions of KAO and LAT

1980

Concept summary for LAT developed by KAO staff; "Three Meter Telescope on a 747SP Platform" paper presented

1977

Boeing delivered to NASA Ames a study for a LAT in a Boeing 747SP

1975-
1979

Planning for LAT continued at low level

1974

First research flight of KAO; Initial studies on larger system

1972

Development well underway on the 36-inch telescope now to be mounted in a Lockheed C-141 platform; Project named the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO); Greenstein report on "Large Stratospheric Telescope" published

1969

Planning started for installation of 36-inch telescope in a CV-990; First astronomy community interest in Boeing 747 1971 National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Decade Survey (Greenstein) Report recommended study of Large Airborne Telescope (LAT)

1965-
1969

First use of NASA aircraft for infrared (IR) astronomy (Convair CV-990 and Lear Jet)